Mackenzie Courtien feels better prepared to attend college next year thanks to the Bard Early College Hudson Valley program offered at Dutchess BOCES’ Career & Technical Institute. The Dover High School senior is one of 20 students enrolled in the program from schools in Dutchess County.
“It has been a really great program. I really look forward to coming here every day,” she said.
“I just really love the program because I’ve gotten to meet so many new people and people from all across Dutchess County. I’ve made some amazing new friends here. The classes are really interesting and they really encourage you to get involved and raise your hand and interact with your classmates and professor.”
Bard Early College is a two-year program for high school juniors and seniors. Students pay no tuition or fees to participate in the program and will receive 28 college credits if they complete the program. There are currently 12 juniors and eight seniors in the program representing the Hyde Park, Pawling, Dover, Pine Plains and Wappinger districts. 
Students in the program receive dual enrollment credit for taking courses such as U.S. History, Bard Seminar, The Art and Craft of Memoir, and The Art and Craft of Fiction that help students fulfill high school graduation requirements and prepare them for the Regents Exams in addition to earning Bard College credits.
“They’re very enthusiastic. They’re positive. They’re upbeat. They’re looking for something different and they genuinely find that,” said Bard Dean of Students Mike Wood.
Bard Early College is looking for additional high school partners in Dutchess County to participate in the program and the college credits are transferrable to colleges and universities around the country, including SUNY and CUNY schools in New York State. Many students who attend the program are also admitted to Bard College and qualify for the Early College Opportunity scholarship, which can cover up to full tuition for four years at Bard.
“The program is growing,” said Matt Park, Director of Bard Early College Hudson Valley. “Right now, we’re able to offer one section for juniors and one section for seniors, but we’re looking to expand that to two sections for juniors and two sections for seniors. We want to open doors of opportunity for as many students as possible in Dutchess County and we are thankful that our partners at Dutchess BOCES are able to help make that happen.”